Marco Silva says Everton will look into the possibility of signing a new centre-back in the January transfer window.
The Blues have started the season with only three senior defenders in that position after the failure to land a replacement for Phil Jagielka.
Jagielka was released at the end of his contract in the summer and went onto to rejoin old club Sheffield United.
Silva says the Blues made the decision not to offer the veteran defender a new deal because they were confident of landing a new recruit.
Chelsea's Kurt Zouma was the club's first-choice target but the London club refused to sell while proposed deals for Fikayo Tomori and Marcos Rojo fell through.
Michael Keane and Yerry Mina are Everton's first-choice pairing this season with Mason Holgate acting as back-up but Silva admits the situation is a "risk" and when asked if he has held conversations with director of football Marcel Brands about signing a centre-back in January, Silva said: "Even if you don't speak about that every week, it is normal we have chats about it and, of course, you are always looking.
"It is my job and the job of Marcel also and now he is doing his job, analysing everything.
"We will see, and what we can do to strengthen our squad will do in January, if you can, or next season again."
Asked if the club were confident of replacing Jagielka, at the time of his release , Silva said: "No-one has doubts about this and you know what's happened in the market.
"We are with three central defenders plus one young boy.
"I think no-one had doubts about that at the time of him going.
"It was not fair to him to wait more time because we were - not 100% because you are never in football - 90-95% optimistic we could get one player for that position."
